Alice A. (Voorhees) Leimser

Five generations of the family of Mrs. Edna Voorhees, Lusk, helped her celebrate her 80th birthday in 1976. Left to right are Mrs. Naomi Lorenzen, granddaughter of Mrs. Voorhees and her son Dennis holding his son Chad; Mrs. Voorhees and her daughter, Mrs. Alice Leimser, mother of Naomi Lorenzen.

(November 5, 1920 - August 20, 2012)

The Lusk Herald

August 22, 2012

Alice A. (Voorhees) Leimser

Alice A. (Voorhees) Leimser was born Nov. 5, 1920, in Rushville, Neb., to loving parents Archie B. Voorhees and Edna (Rightmire) Voorhees. She passed away Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, at Niobrara Life and Health Center in Lusk, Wyo. at the age of 91. Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012, at the First Baptist Church in Lusk, with Pastor Tom Strock officiating. Interment is in the Lusk Cemetery.

Alice spent her entire life in Niobrara County: first the homestead in Sunshine Valley, eventually the family moved to Lusk in 1927.

Alice attended school in Lusk, and graduated from Lusk High School. Joe Ben Leimser and Alice were married Dec. 28, 1938, in Hot Springs, S.D. They were blessed with two daughters, Eleanor and Naomi.

Alice worked for Merrit Cleaners for many years, until it closed.

Alice and her family lived in Lusk until 1954 when Joe went to work for the Cross A Ranch. She took care of her family and cooked for the hired hands until 1959, when they moved to the family ranch in the Buck Creek Hills where they made their home until 1985. At that time they purchased a place east of Lusk. They lived there until Alice moved to the Niobrara Health and Life Center in Lusk, where she resided for six years. There, Alice entertained those taking care of her with quaint sayings, bringing laughter to their days.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lusk, and was active in both Hat Creek and Node American Union Sunday Schools.

Many family members and friends would come to Alice for advice. She gave wise advice, and left it up to them whether they took it or not.

Alice loved to sew and many of her family were lucky and proud to wear the outfits she made. She was not only talented at sewing, but displayed her talent in woodwork, drawing and painting pictures, and crochet work. She could about make anything out of nothing once she made up her mind to do so. Alice loved her flower gardens outside, and had many lovely house plants.

Alice loved children and would spoil them every chance she got. She was able to enjoy her three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and to hold three of her seven great-great-grandchildren. Joe and Alice's heart and home was open to four boys: Howard and Kelton Lorenzen, Dave Williams, and Doug Frances.

Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Ben Leimser, her parents, one nephew, and one great-granddaughter.

She is survived by her sister, Rosemary Tadewald of Van Tassell, Wyo.; daughters Eleanor (Stan) Aamodt of Lusk, and Naomi (Tom) Rothleutner of Upton, Wyo.; grandchildren Connie (Glenn) Sharp, Howard Lorenzen, and Jacquie (Jerry) Edelman; six great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Lusk, to the Niobrara County Senior Center, or to an organization of the donor's choice.